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Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story

Name: Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story
Director: T.C. Christensen
Released: 2025
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

1.8/10

Minimal

2025

Director

T.C. Christensen

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story is a classic biographical drama that emphasizes individual merit and traditional values. The narrative structure focuses on a singular male journey towards excellence, reinforcing established social and moral hierarchies rather than challenging them. The film adheres to the historical status quo of the early 1900s, highlighting traditional family dynamics and Western ideals of perseverance. It serves as a conventional sports drama centered on personal discipline and athletic achievement. Because the story follows a standard trajectory of redemption and success, it lacks depth in reflecting multiple aspects of identity and opts for a traditionalist perspective.

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Category Breakdown

Does Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories. It follows a traditional biography focusing on athletic achievements and personal discipline during the early 20th century.

How does Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around Alma Richards, a male protagonist navigating male-dominated fields such as ranching and Olympic athletics. The plot is driven by his actions and experiences.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story?

Fair

Set in the early 1900s, the film likely reflects the era's demographics. There is no indication of a diverse cast or non-Anglo-Saxon majority.

How does Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story represent religion and culture?

Limited

Themes align with traditional Western values of meritocracy and individual perseverance. The narrative celebrates a moral arc of redemption through hard work and institutional success.

Does Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters dealing with physical, neurodivergent, or mental health challenges. Therefore, there is no assessment of disability representation.

Present on Screen

Offers an inspiring historical account of athletic perseverance and individual character growth.
Maintains historical realism consistent with the early 20th-century setting.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or diverse gender roles.
Focuses heavily on traditional masculine achievement clichés, limiting broader gender roles.
Does not explore diverse racial or cultural perspectives beyond the historical status quo.

Official Synopsis

In 1908, eighth grader Alma Richards quits school to work as a ranch hand. A chance meeting with a professor motivates him to resume his education, leading him to compete in high jump at the Stockholm Olympics and win a gold medal.

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